MORE than 15 years after Radiohead’s triumphant homecoming show in South Park, the Oxford park is to once again play host to a major music event.

Called Common People, the non-camping festival will see bands playing three stages over the course of two days on May 28 and 29.

It is run by the team behind one of the world’s highly-rated music festivals, Bestival – who have a proven track record in staging quality events, which should settle any fears following the fiasco of last year’s ill-fated ‘Oxford Oxford’ festival, also planned for South Park – which was axed a week before it was due to start date due to poor ticket sales.

Bestival takes place at Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle of Wight, with a family-friendly sister festival Camp Bestival staged in Dorset. Bands playing Bestival this year included Duran Duran Missy Elliot and Chemical Brothers.

A Common People was staged earlier this year in Southampton, headlined by Fatboy Slim. The Hampshire city will host a similar event the same weekend as Oxford, with some acts playing both festivals.

The first tranche of acts are expected to be named next week.

Organisers have assured us there will be a decent contingent of Oxford acts on the line-up as well as some spectacular headliners. They also promise plenty of the freewheeling fun and colour which makes the event one of Britain's best-loved festivals.

Talks are underway with Oxford City Council, with orgnisers Get Involved saying they have been delighted by the council's positive approach and support.

Aidan Ryne from Get Involved said: "This will be a twin for our already established Southampton event, held on the same Spring Bank Holiday weekend. Both festivals will share some line-up, with a few key regional differences to give each show an unmistakably homespun feel.

"Both amazingly brilliant line-ups of world class superstar bands and DJs will be announced very soon." 

Tickets are expected to cost below £27.50 + booking fee, per day

* Festival-goers signing up to the Common people mailing list will get access to an exclusive 24-hour ticket pre-sale, and 100 randomly-chosen people will get the chance to buy a day ticket for just £10. Go here for details....

More on this story in today's Oxford Mail